Dead as Time

Chapter 8-Abbey

I'm by the military camp by the time I get Alyssa's message. She didn't think I could do it but I would prove her wrong. I'd do anything for her, but that doesn't include not going to find her.

I put my phone back into my pocket instead of replying to her.

The military camp is full of blood. Blood on the tent we were in, blood on the logs and trees, dead bodies everywhere. The camp we once called our refugee, gone. But I see no actual Eaters in the area so I move on. While taking more and more steps away from the camp I realize this is it. Nothing anyone can do about it.

After walking for an hour I decide to take a rest. I drink some water and eat some crackers.

Knowing I don't have a lot of food. I limit the amounts I eat. After I rest I start walking again. I stop when I hear rustling. The rustling gets louder and louder so I pull out my knife. I whip around and an Eater lunges at me. It pins me to the ground and closes in on me. I use all my strength and manage to push it off. I drive my knife into its head. "Stupid bitch" I say and spit on it.

The first kill was a rush but the many after that didn't phase me. It quickly grew easier to kill them and know how to do it without attracting many. Hearing human words after walking alone for three hours came as a shock to me. But then again I was nearing a subdivision called Elk Hills and there was destined to be people there. At first it was quiet then I made out words. "Help. H..help!" It was coming from the mouth of a girl. She sounded small. I start nearing the voice. When I see where it's coming from I gasp.

The little girl is trapped behind a log with five Eaters clawing at her. She screams and tears rush down her face. "Someone! Please!" Without thinking I whistle. That catches the attention of two and that's not enough. I start yelling at them. "Hey you stupid freaks! Look over here!" All of the Eaters turn around and start coming at me. I freak out, I've never had this many at once. I pull at my gun and get all of them in the head. I get proud of myself and smile.

I run over to the little girl who looks about nine. "Hey, hey, you're okay now What's your name?" I say while comforting her. "Alexandria" she replies quietly. "Okay Alex- I'm just gonna call you Alex. Where are your parents?" She looks around then goes silent for a minute. "I...I don't know. They were gone when I woke up. I was trying to get to the lake they normally go fishing at. They sometimes leave in the morning to go fishing without waking me. They're normally back before I wake up though" she responds through the tears. "Okay just come with me. Stay by myself and keep quiet."

I know I'm about three more hours away from home when we pass Crazy Town. By then it's dark and we're exhausted so I tell Alex to sleep while I sit up against a tree and keep watch. Nothing bothers us all night so I fall asleep. When I wake up and look around Alex is gone. I start looking around and can't find her. When I start calling for her I hear the faintest response from about a quarter mile away. I start running towards the response to find Alex in a meadow picking flowers.

"Alex what the fu- heck? I've been panicking about you! Why are you all the way over here by yourself?" I may have scared her but not as much as she scared me. "I..I'm sorry. I was just p..picking flowers for you. Because you helped me" so cute omigod. I automatically feel like a bitch so I hug her. "Yeah I'm sorry, I was just worried that's all. I didn't mean to get mad. You're all I have right now" I saying sympathetically.

After we make-up we walk back to where we were resting. We collect our things, drink some water, eat a granola bar, and are walking again. When I see the Ridgeview sign I know we are close. Ridgeview is a subdivision 30 minutes from our house. We take another rest and eat. While eating, we hear some rustling in the front of the house we started resting in. The noises get louder then the door flings open. Alex's screams illuminate the neighborhood.